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NMSU Hosts Windmill Technology Workshop

LAS CRUCES -- Maintaining and repairing windmills is not a lost art, thanks to a workshop offered May 17-19 at New Mexico State University. The windmill technology certification workshop will train participants in wellhead protection, and maintenance and repair of conventional windmill water pumping systems.

"Windmills provide water to remote locations throughout the state. The workshop is designed for people who are thinking about putting up a windmill and for those who have a windmill but don't have much experience," said Carlos Rosencrans, an associate professor of agricultural and extension education who is coordinating the program.

He anticipates that the class will fill quickly because it has been four years since the last windmill workshop was taught at NMSU.

Rosencrans and three other instructors will teach the workshop. Craig Runyan, water resource specialist with NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service, will provide instruction on wellhead protection, pollution prevention and windmill site assessment. James Dean, professor emeritus with NMSU's agricultural and extension education department, will teach basic repair and maintenance. Steve Storm, a private engineering consultant from Huntington Beach, Calif., will lead the sessions on windmill restoration and refurbishing.

Participants can expect to get some firsthand experience climbing the towers during lab sessions. "We do a lot of hands-on activities where we'll actually be pulling wells and working on mills themselves, so we've really just got room for about 20, maybe 25 students at the most," Rosencrans said.

The class is also open to both graduate and undergraduate NMSU students, who will receive one credit-hour for attending the workshop. Registration fee is $50 and lab fee for the class is $90. Fees are due the first day of class.

Rosencrans recommends that interested people reserve a spot in the class by contacting him at (505) 646-4511 or crosencr@nmsu.edu.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate in this workshop, please contact Rosencrans in advance.